NHS parking consultation begins

Eight out of 10 people believe hospital parking charges should be scrapped for patients with long-term illnesses

Health Secretary Andy Burnham is launching a consultation on the abolition of hospital car parking charges for some out-patients as well as in-patients.

Mr Burnham pledged to phase out parking charges for in-patients over the next three years when he addressed the Labour Party conference in September.

The Health Secretary also said he wanted to introduce parking permits to allow friends and relatives to visit in-patients for free.

The eight-week consultation will ask if free parking should be available for visitors to all in-patients or if it should only become free for friends and relatives admitted for a long stay.

It will also suggest options to make parking charges fairer for out-patients.

These include giving access to free parking for those who need to attend a series of appointments or placing a cap on charges for priority outpatient groups who attend regular hospital appointments.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "When people are coming into hospital, the last thing they want to worry about is car parking.

"We want hospital car parking charges that are fair for patients - this consultation explores a wide range of options, not only suggesting free access for in-patients, but looking at benefits for outpatients.

"We want to make sure that we get views from those that this affects directly: patients and their friends and families."

Mike Hobday, head of policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "We are delighted that the Government has finally listened to our repeated calls and is now looking at giving free parking for all cancer patients."